NFC West Preview
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Prediction: 9-7 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview:Quick...who had the most 2nd-half passing TDs in the NFL in 2007? Tom Brady? Peyton Manning? Tony Romo? None of those. It was Kurt Warner. The Arizona Cardinals have the best offense in the NFC West. Kurt Warner was finally given the starting QB job that he deserved. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are the best 2 WRs in the NFC West and their RB duo of Edgerrin James and rookie Tim Hightower is solid. The defense is underrated with Karlos Dansby, Adrian Wilson and rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Cardinals have only had one winning season in the past 23 seasons, but 2008 will make it 2 in 24 years.
Interesting Stat/Fact: The Cardinals were the most penalized team in the NFL (137 penalties for 1,128 yards) in 2007.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 119-137 (.465)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): at Washington, vs Dallas, at Seattle, vs NY Giants, at New England, vs Seattle
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 18 wins (6.0 per season)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Prediction: 8-8 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: The Seattle Seahawks have won the NFC West every year from 2004-2007. Can the 'Hawks extend it one more season in what will be Mike Holmgren's final season? The Arizona Cardinals have the best offense in the division although I think the Seahawks have the best defense. With the injuries at WR (Bobby Engram, Deion Branch, Ben Obomanu) and the worst running attack in the NFC West with Maurice Morris and Julius Jones, I expect the Seahawks offense to sputter at times. The Seahawks have enough to challenge for a wildcard berth and even the division title, but I think their streak is over at 4 years.
Interesting Stat/Fact: Unlike the Cardinals, the Seahawks were the least penalized team in the NFL (59 penalties for 428 yards) in 2007.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 122-134 (.477)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): at NY Giants, vs Green Bay, at Tampa Bay, vs Washington, at Dallas, vs New England
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 32 wins (10.7 per season)
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Prediction: 5-11 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Steven Jackson and Rams management engaged in an expensive game of chicken this pre-season, but Jackson has re-joined the Rams with a new deal. Without Jackson, the Rams would have been really awful. With Jackson, the Rams will be awful (not really awful). However, Marc Bulger and the Rams passing attack haven't been the same in the pre-season and last year as they once have been. In fact, it's not even close. Chris Long was a good draft pick at #2 and he will help make the defense stronger, but the defense still has a lot of weaknesses. And the Rams won't be able to put up enough points to compensate. It will be another rough year for the Rams.
Interesting Stat/Fact: Marc Bulger went from 24 TDs and 8 INTs in 2006 to 11 TDs and 15 INTs in 2007. Will it be the 2007 or the 2006 Bulger in 2008?
Strength of Schedule: 125-131 (.488)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): vs NY Giants, at Seattle, at Washington, vs Dallas, at New England, vs Seattle
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 17 wins (5.7 per season)
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Prediction: 4-12 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Mike Martz is widely-regarded as an offensive genius. But can he work his magic with the lack of weapons in the Niners' passing game? The 49ers start Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson at WR and J.T. O'Sullivan at QB. TE Vernon Davis has a ton of potential although TEs don't typically put up big numbers in a Martz' offense. That being said, Davis has the potential to be used as a WR. With Davis' TE size and WR speed, the possibilities are scary for DBs. Will Frank Gore be used similarly to how Marshall Faulk was used? There are a lot of question marks on offense although the defense should be healthy and solid. How many games will they lose 9-6? I think too many.
Interesting Stat/Fact: 26 - # of career pass attempts for J.T. O'Sullivan, who replaces #1 overall draft pick Alex Smith
Strength of Schedule: 124-132 (.484)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): at Seattle, vs New England, at NY Giants, vs Seattle, at Dallas, vs Washington
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 16 wins (5.3 per season)
Prediction: 9-7 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview:Quick...who had the most 2nd-half passing TDs in the NFL in 2007? Tom Brady? Peyton Manning? Tony Romo? None of those. It was Kurt Warner. The Arizona Cardinals have the best offense in the NFC West. Kurt Warner was finally given the starting QB job that he deserved. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are the best 2 WRs in the NFC West and their RB duo of Edgerrin James and rookie Tim Hightower is solid. The defense is underrated with Karlos Dansby, Adrian Wilson and rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Cardinals have only had one winning season in the past 23 seasons, but 2008 will make it 2 in 24 years.
Interesting Stat/Fact: The Cardinals were the most penalized team in the NFL (137 penalties for 1,128 yards) in 2007.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 119-137 (.465)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): at Washington, vs Dallas, at Seattle, vs NY Giants, at New England, vs Seattle
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 18 wins (6.0 per season)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Prediction: 8-8 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: The Seattle Seahawks have won the NFC West every year from 2004-2007. Can the 'Hawks extend it one more season in what will be Mike Holmgren's final season? The Arizona Cardinals have the best offense in the division although I think the Seahawks have the best defense. With the injuries at WR (Bobby Engram, Deion Branch, Ben Obomanu) and the worst running attack in the NFC West with Maurice Morris and Julius Jones, I expect the Seahawks offense to sputter at times. The Seahawks have enough to challenge for a wildcard berth and even the division title, but I think their streak is over at 4 years.
Interesting Stat/Fact: Unlike the Cardinals, the Seahawks were the least penalized team in the NFL (59 penalties for 428 yards) in 2007.
Strength of Schedule: 2007 opponents were 122-134 (.477)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): at NY Giants, vs Green Bay, at Tampa Bay, vs Washington, at Dallas, vs New England
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 32 wins (10.7 per season)
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Prediction: 5-11 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Steven Jackson and Rams management engaged in an expensive game of chicken this pre-season, but Jackson has re-joined the Rams with a new deal. Without Jackson, the Rams would have been really awful. With Jackson, the Rams will be awful (not really awful). However, Marc Bulger and the Rams passing attack haven't been the same in the pre-season and last year as they once have been. In fact, it's not even close. Chris Long was a good draft pick at #2 and he will help make the defense stronger, but the defense still has a lot of weaknesses. And the Rams won't be able to put up enough points to compensate. It will be another rough year for the Rams.
Interesting Stat/Fact: Marc Bulger went from 24 TDs and 8 INTs in 2006 to 11 TDs and 15 INTs in 2007. Will it be the 2007 or the 2006 Bulger in 2008?
Strength of Schedule: 125-131 (.488)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): vs NY Giants, at Seattle, at Washington, vs Dallas, at New England, vs Seattle
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 17 wins (5.7 per season)
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Prediction: 4-12 | Team Home | Team Forum | Team Schedule
Overview: Mike Martz is widely-regarded as an offensive genius. But can he work his magic with the lack of weapons in the Niners' passing game? The 49ers start Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson at WR and J.T. O'Sullivan at QB. TE Vernon Davis has a ton of potential although TEs don't typically put up big numbers in a Martz' offense. That being said, Davis has the potential to be used as a WR. With Davis' TE size and WR speed, the possibilities are scary for DBs. Will Frank Gore be used similarly to how Marshall Faulk was used? There are a lot of question marks on offense although the defense should be healthy and solid. How many games will they lose 9-6? I think too many.
Interesting Stat/Fact: 26 - # of career pass attempts for J.T. O'Sullivan, who replaces #1 overall draft pick Alex Smith
Strength of Schedule: 124-132 (.484)
2007 Playoff Teams on Schedule (6): at Seattle, vs New England, at NY Giants, vs Seattle, at Dallas, vs Washington
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 16 wins (5.3 per season)
